The sad story of this dress is that it was made for as part of a young woman’s bridal trousseau. This was her “going away” dress. She was married, but the hapless bridegroom was killed in a horse & buggy accident on the honeymoon. She returned home, placed the dress in a chest and it’s been there ever since, until the home was finally emptied for an auction sale of all the contents over a hundred years later.
A note bearing a poignant message accompanies the shoes. The note says they were worn by Little Charlie who passed away at 20 months in November, 1840.
The shoes and their note will be accompanied by a piece of fine silk with these words written in pencil on it: My dear Charly, my child. The note makes mention of a lock of Charlie’s hair. This was not found with the shoes. This little grouping struck a chord in my heart.
Yes, 30 years ago I wore this when Paul and I got married. Our daughter has died and I have no-one to leave it to so I’m hoping someone will like it enough to use it for their special day and as their something old!
This shirt belonged to my grandfather who fell to his death from an oil rig in Bakersfield California in 1938 while my grandmother was pregnant with my mother.
